Antonio Conte avoids mentioning Chelsea when asked about long-term future

Everything we've read for the past several weeks indicates that Chelsea's next manager will be Italy's Antonio Conte, who confirmed last week that he will be stepping down as the national team's Head Coach last week. On Tuesday, Conte was asked about his decision to leave his current post, and whether of not he was, indeed, heading to Chelsea.

"I'm the coach of the national team and it's an experience which has taught me so much. It's been a fantastic, extraordinary experience and I've always envied coaches who have taken part at a World Cup or a European Championship."

"I have thought about it and weighed up my decision and when I had no more doubts, I informed the president - the one who chose me and wanted me here."

"I feel a great desire to work. I'm excited about the competition in June, I am raring to go.  These are experiences that happen once in a lifetime and I feel a great responsibility."

While Conte didn't confirm his next destination, he made it very clear that he won't be returning to the national team. Most would reach the logical conclusion that he wouldn't rule out a return to his current post if he didn't have another job already lined up, but for now, that's just a common sense assumption.

I suppose we'll just have to wait a bit longer for confirmation.